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| Updated: 20-Apr-2006 | NATO Press Releases |
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Press Release (2006)044 20 April 2006 |
Informal meetings of Foreign Ministers (IFM 2006) 1. Information Foreign Ministers of NATO will hold informal meetings in Sofia , Bulgaria , on 27 and 28 April 2006 , under the chairmanship of the NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria , His Excellency Mr. Ivaylo Kalfin, will host the meetings. The National Palace of Culture is the venue for the ministerial sessions. The Media Centre will be located in the same building. 2. Accreditation and Security Checks The Media Accreditation Office will be located in the Glass building at the parking entrance of the National Palace of Culture (opposite the Continental Plaza restaurant), bul. Bulgaria 1, 1414 Sofia . Opening hours of the Media Accreditation Office:
Applications for accreditation can only be made electronically on-line, by clicking on the following link: https://my.hq.nato.int/jas In order to complete your accreditation request, you will need to provide a digital picture. Only a 3,5 x 4,5 cm passport-size photograph in JPEG format will be accepted. Every applicant has to create a user name and password. Applications for accreditation should be submitted to NATO before Friday, 21 April 2006 . Applications received after that date may not be processed. Press passes will be available for collection at the Media Accreditation Office from 10:00 hours on Tuesday, 25 April 2006 . Press passes to be worn visibly will not be mailed to applicants. They may be collected personally at the Media Accreditation Office on presentation of an I.D. card or passport and a valid press card (or letter of accreditation from a recognized media organisation) which should be presented at any time upon request of security personnel. All media representatives are informed that security personnel will examine and may test equipment and personal effects carried onto the site and are advised to arrive with sufficient time to clear the security checks. Television and radio broadcasters, wire services and photo agencies with bulky equipment are particularly urged to move most of it into the Media Centre before 12:00 hours on Wednesday, 26 April 2005. 3. Media Centre The Media Centre will be operational on the following hours: Wednesday, 26 April 12:00 – 22:00 hours 4. Broadcasting Television and radio interview rooms and facilities are located at the Media Centre. Satellite uplink trucks and O.B. vans will be parked along the Media Centre at the Media entrance – A6 of the NPC.Electricity in Bulgaria is 220V and plugs have two round pins. - Television The Host Television Broadcaster, Bulgarian National Television will provide coverage of arrivals of delegations, the opening sessions, the official group photographs, as well as main international news conferences. For enquiries, please contact: Rumen Stratiev, Television Co-ordinator, Coverage material will be distributed by the TV production studio – TV1. For enquiries, please contact: Rumen Kovachev – TV1 coordinator - Radio The Host Radio Broadcaster, Bulgarian National Radio will provide the signal and technical assistance. For enquiries, please contact: Mrs Albena Milanova Kamburova 5. Communications Laptop computers will need to be equipped with RJ 45 plugs in order to be able to connect to the high-speed communication network. ISDN lines will be available for radio transmissions. Please check if you need to use an adapter in “Euro ISDN” standard. 6. Programme and pools The final programme of the meetings will be available upon accreditation. Media events will begin on Thursday, 27 April with the inauguration of an exhibition at the NPC. Pool cards will be distributed at the Media Centre at 12:00 on Wednesday, 27 April. As a follow-up to the NATO ministerial meetings and as part of its series of annual security related events, the Centre for the Study of Democracy (CSD) is holding an international conference on “NATO transformation – Facing new security frontiers on 28-29 April 2006 in Boyana Residence. Press accreditation badges for the NATO ministerial meetings will remain valid for this CSD conference and shuttle buses between the NPC and the Boyana residence will be provided for media representatives. 7. Visas, Accommodation and Transport - Visas Please check with the nearest Bulgarian Embassy or Consulate General regarding visa requirements. Please mention that you will cover the NATO foreign ministers meeting when applying for a visa. Visas for accredited journalists are free of charge. - Accommodation Media representatives are encouraged to stay in Sofia and are advised to book their hotel rooms as soon as possible. The recommended hotels are: Festa Barcelo Premium Sofia Hotel For further information please call: Mr/Mrs Mrs. Maya Stefanova; Mrs. Dessislava Hristova; Mr. Vladimir Panteleev Telephone: +359 2 971 70 74 - Transport Media representatives will use the existing Public Transport to and from the airport. A bus service will operate on 27 and 28 April between Festa Barcello Hotel and the Media Centre (the Central Park Hotel is within walking distance from Media Centre). 8. Payment All major credit cards and bank transfers will be accepted for payments. 9. Enquiries Ms. Maya Antonova, Mr. François Le Blévennec
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